Louis Joseph, Duke of Vendome

Louis Joseph, Duke of Vendome (1 July 1654-11 June 1712) was a Marshal of France under King Louis XIV of France.

Biography
Louis Joseph de Bourbon was born in Paris, Kingdom of France on 1 July 1654, the son of Louis, Duke of Vendome; he was the illegitimate great-grandson of King Henry IV of France and the maternal cousin of Eugene of Savoy. In 1669, he succeeded his father as Duke of Vendome, and he entered the army in 1672. He distinguished himself during the Franco-Dutch War before rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1688. During the War of the Grand Alliance, he distinguished himself under the Duc de Luxembourg at Steenkirk and under Nicolas Catinat at Marsaglia, and he took command of the army in Catalonia in 1695, taking Barcelona two years later. Soon afterwards, he was made a Marshal of France. In 1702, he replaced Francois de Neufville as commander of the army in Italy during the War of the Spanish Succession, defeating Eugene of Savoy at Cassano in 1695. After the disaster at Ramillies and Neufville's sacking, Vendome was sent to Flanders, failing to prevent the defeat at Oudenarde. He was later sent to Spain, winning at Brihuega and Villaviciosa. He died suddenly at Vinaros in 1712.